Abstract: :
Purpose: To elucidate the role of macrophage migration inhibitoryfactor (MIF), an inflammatory cytokine, in the wound healingof mouse corneal epithelium.Methods: 1. 2 mm in diameter roundepithelial abrasion was made in ICR mice of 7 weeks old andwound healing of epithelium was observed at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30and 48 hours after wounding. An area of epithelial defect wasmeasured by the digital microscope. The following three groupsof mice were made; group A: mice who received anti-mouse MIFantibody eye drop 5 times/day, group B : mice who received anti-mouseMIF antibody systemic administration at -24, 0, +24 hours, groupC : mice of non-treatment. 2. 2 mm in diameter epithelial abrasionwas made in MIF knockout Balb/c mice and conventional Balb/cmice of 7 weeks old. Wound healing was observed at every sixhours after wounding.Results: 1. In ICR mice, mice of groupA showed the delay of epithelial wound healing significantlycompared with those of group C. Mice of group B resulted inthe delay of wound healing significantlly only at 24 hours afterwounding, compared with those of group C. All the mice completedwound healing within 48 hours after wounding. 2. In MIF knockoutBalb/c mice the epithelial wound healing was significantllydelayed at any observed period compared with those of conventionalBalb/c mice. In all the mice experimented wound healing finishedin 48 hours after wounding.Conclusion: The above findings indicatethat MIF may play a role in wound healing of corneal epitheliumin mice.